Abuja – Nigeria and South Africa on Tuesday agreed to ensure speedy implementation of the over 30 bilateral agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries.
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa made this known at a joint news conference with President Muhammadu Buhari after a closed door bilateral meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said that the signed agreements and MoU covered a wide range of socio-economic and security cooperation.
According to Zuma, the relevant ministers of the two countries have also been directed to identify joint projects of benefits to both countries.
“Our two countries have signed over 30 bilateral agreements and Memorandum of Understanding.
“These agreements covered a wide range of cooperation areas, including trade and industry, transport, energy, defence and security and immigration, among others.
“We have directed the relevant ministers to move with speed in implementing all signed agreements.
“We have also directed our ministers to identify joint projects in the key high impact strategic development areas which will have socio-economic benefits such as employment creation to our peoples.’’
President Zuma expressed delight over increased economic cooperation and trade relations between South Africa and Nigeria, adding that Nigeria was a key trading partner to South Africa in the continent.
Zuma said that prior to 1999, there were only four South African companies operating in Nigeria, saying that the situation had changed dramatically as over 120 companies were engaged in various sectors of the Nigerian economy.
He disclosed that an average of 4,000 Nigerians travelled to South Africa monthly in 2015.
Zuma stated that the South African government would continue to encourage its business community to tour Nigeria with a view to attracting more investments into the country.
On the possible repatriation of Nigeria’s seized weapon money by South African authorities, President Zuma stated that the matter was under investigation.
In his remarks, President Buhari, who traced the long historical relations between Nigeria and South Africa to the apartheid era, said the two countries had agreed to upgrade the 1999 and 2013 bilateral agreements and MoU.
Buhari assured that Nigeria would continue promote positive aspects of its relations with South Africa to further strengthen the agreements.
“We are grateful for this visit and agreements signed in 1999 and 2013, we are determined to make them much more relevant by meeting at a high level, at least once a year, and going over with respective Council of Ministers on what they have been able to achieve.
“Through you, the press, we will like to promote those positive aspects that bind us together politically, economically and security wise.’’
Buhari also stressed the need for an African nation to be member of United Nations Security Council, saying that Africa with over one billion people deserved the membership of the council.
“We will like to demand, through the international community, to apply their conscience that Africa deserves a place in the Security Council of the United Nations.
“We are more than a billion people in Africa. In spite of the state of development, in terms of economic and security, we deserve to be recognised and be invited to that body.
“We are grateful for South Africa’s recognition of our partnership in trying to promote the relevance of Africa in world politics and economics.’’
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On the billions of naira fine imposed on MTN by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) over unregistered sim cards, Buhari said that the MTN had chosen a more understanding means of addressing the matter.
He said that with the withdrawal of the case from the court by the MTN, the company had an opportunity to renegotiate the fine with NCC and relevant security agencies.
President Buhari also formally condoled with the people and government of South Africa over the death of 85 South African citizens in 2014 occasioned by the collapsed of a Church building in Lagos.
The visiting South African president, who addressed a joint session of the National Assembly, would be hosted to a dinner before departing back home on Wednesday. (NAN)
